Progression

His mind concentrated on a focal point of his body. That being the index finger. By manipulating mana the size of his foot and concentrating it into a singular part of his body, it increased the potency of the mana. Now, it is constructed into an edge with a small surface area. Creating a small blade of energy, he thrust his hand at a tree. Piercing through the tree, he felt elated at his findings. "As I thought, by refining my mana, manipulating its shape and size becomes easier. Now I can use it to turn anything into a blade." He picked up a stick. "Including a stick." He sensed a presence based on the subtle vibrations that travelled through the ground.

"Master Terrence." The head butler stood a decent distance away from the child.

"Reginald." He took up a rock Q. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I have noticed you have taken a liking to swordsmanship, Master Terrence." He announced.

"You'd be blind not to." Collecting rocks that fit in his hand.

"The king has noticed your interest and offers to hire a teacher for you." - Reginald

"No thanks." He tossed up the rocks into the air.

"Are you sure, Master Terrence? His Majesty is fully capable of gathering the most suitable tutor that align with your interest." He informed the boy.

"No need." Unleashing the mana within his body outward, he connects with the wind. Feeling the distortions and vibrations in the air through his skin, the rocks were under his detection. He knew exactly where they were and had an estimate of their speed. With the stick in hand, he starts slicing through the rocks that fall before him.

The rocks hit the ground, all split in half. "Instead, ask father if I could..."

________

"He wants to what?" The king, Massador heard something that was completely blasphemous to him.

Reginald, the messenger in this situation was as appalled as his majesty but was stoic to the end. "Master Terrence requested to have a garden of his own and the ability to register as an adventurer."

"Children....they are unrealistic to the fangs of their dull teeth." Massador palmed his face.

"Your Majesty, if I may. I believe this is more than the fantismal interest of a child."

"And what made you declare such concept?" Massador asked, intrigued.

"The child's body holds definition. He's capable of molding mana into a stick and wielding it as if it is a sword. It seems he is confident in his own skills and would like to hone them further through actual experience." Reginald exclaimed.

"So his confidence isnt riddled in childish curiosity. That is refreshing." He contemplates on the matter for a second. "However, talent means nothing in the face of unyielding danger. First, he must prove he is strong enough to defend himself before any of that."

___________

"While his majesty cannot make you an adventurer due to your age, he can grant you freedom to roam this country's land." Reginald said to the boy.

"Thats fair." Terrence was on the ground with his back pointed to the dirt below. His hips raise up to the sky and rotates.

"In a year's time, you must defeat the five combatants chosen by your father." - Reginald

"Sounds easy enough." He said in a rugged and breathy tone.

(He not knows the foes he will face and yet the difficulty is perceived as easy? Did I mistake his arrogance for confidence?) Reginald's gut instinct was to believe in this child but with the odds stacked against him, what could this 5 year old do in a year's time.

(The planet's complete rotation happens in twice as long as my home world. So a month here would be 1,344 hours. I need only half of that for anything else. So if I continue working out 12 hours each day for the rest of this month. That'll be equivalent to a year's workout.) He thought to himself. He smirked at the adversity and what completing it would mean for his legacy in this world.

He got up from the ground. "Tell father he has a deal. Tomorrow morning will be the start of the deal." He walked up to Reginald and took the towel he held. Wiping the sweat off his head.

"Also, you've been granted a section of the kingdom's garden." Reginald said.

"Thats good." He walked past Reginald. "Show me the way."

_________

In the castle's garden, a section that was southeast of the entire garden was for Terrence. His tools for gardening were his barehands and the mana inside his body. Burying his fingers into the dirt and plowing through the ground. Making a deep enough hole for the seeds he held. The first seed was a test run for Terrence. Mana is everywhere. So the prince hypothesized that plants and animals are naturally more sensitive to mana than humans because of how in tune and reactant they are to their surroundings and keen senses.

He refills the hole after placing the seed inside. Terrence positioned his palms on top of the recently filled hole and imbues mana into the surrounding area to search for the seed he buried. His mana connected to one strand of life and that was the target. Now he had to get the magic right for his experiment to be a success. Seeing magic formulas as a field of study, he'd use mathematics, thermodynamics, chemistry, and biology to create a formula. To make conducting his mana easier and comfortable for the plant, he applied a cooling property to the equation of magic. Heat from a warmer object transfers easier to a colder object. A property alike this is added onto the magic equation. The reaction toward water and assistance it has the cell division or cell growth was added. Taking 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 or photosynthesis into account and the hypothetical limit to how much mana the seed can take before bursting, a magic circle forms on the surface of the garden where his hands lay.

Terrence releases his hands and a bud sprouts from the ground. It was a success.

He smirked lightly. "I did it. Now to rinse and repeat." He did this for the first row of his side of the garden.

_________

Walking down the hallway of the castle, he had bedtime clothing on and damp hair. (I'll resume physical training tomorrow. For now, I'll focus the rest of my day in my room.)

Entering his room, he sets up an area of pillows to avoid bodily discomfort or his lower body 'falling asleep' during this session of seclusion. Sitting down on the array of pillows, Terrence folded his legs together and sat his hands on his knees. Focusing on the mana inside his body and what he desires to accomplish, he enters a high state of concentration.

He sat down gathering air into his body through his nose. He could sense the mana entering his body. Devoting his mind on a focal concept. Taking this mana into his own core did not help the betterment of his mana overall from his point of view. It'd simply increase the amount he holds. He needed better control over this mana. And with that, a system needs to be in place. Electricity in a controlled system is stronger than its raw state. But a system has three important aspects; A Controller, a network, and a Battery. The source of the power where the energy flows from is the battery. The network being the pathway where the energy flows through. And finally, the controller which manipulates the energy that flows.

(What should the circuits take the shape of? The circulatory system? No, I should make it something that is more close to home. And the nervous system is significantly more sensitive and intertwined with the body's functionality.)

With that the picture of the nervous system entered his mindscape. Drawing his energy inside him into many parts, stringing them out to meet every nerve in his body.

Meanwhile, someone was in the room with him. A woman fitted in the attire of a female servant of the castle. A black and white dress with an apron over it. This maid was installed to Terrence.

Before his meditation, King Massador instructed a girl. "Your job is to be the Third Prince's personal attendant. You will be in charge of surveilling him, his daily hygeine, cleaning, feeding, and protecting him."

This girl looked up with eyes of silver and the Mark Of Jean. She bows before the king. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Reginald, guide her to his room." Massador calmly demanded.

"Then I will take my leave, Your Majesty." Reginald walked passed the girl. "Come along, Silvia. The Young Master awaits."

The two walked down the hallway and throughout their stroll, Reginald was informing Silvia of Terrence's needs. "Young Master Terrence is a talented young man. But because of that talent, he becomes a handful to care for." He extends his index finger outward as if he was pointing to the roof. "Terrence requires a breakfast of only sweets, a lunch of only meat, and a dinner of only vegetables. A towel for him must be on standby whenever he is meditating or during times of physical exercise."

Silvia was emotionless in the face but her thoughts contradicted this display. (Wait isn't my job to serve a 5 year old? I mean, he is the son of the Mighty King Massador but he's still a 5 year old right? Why is Sir Reginald speaking as if this child is an adult with his own schedule?)

Reginald and Silvia reached Terrence's room. "And finally, be wary of him at all times. Terrence is an unpredictable child. So whatever expectations you have instilled upon him already, throw them out already." Reginald knocks on the door. "Master Terrence, it Is Reginald. It is safe enter?"

(Is it safe? Is this guy a mad scientist?) Silvia thought.

Silence, no feedback from Terrence in the slightest. "Master Terrence? I will be letting myself in now." He opened the door slowly and stepped into the room to see Terrence on the ground in a meditative state.

"Ah, he is in the middle of one of his meditation sessions." Reginald turned around. "I will go retrieve a towel. Silvia, it is your duty to stay by his side. I hope you see to it." He walked off, leaving the two in the room by themselves.

It was deafening in the room. No sound was made. (What is a toddler going to achieve by meditating? Is this a phase? Has to be a phase.) Silvia looked around the room. There were books on the ground, the bed was not made up, it wasn't completely dirty but it was a mess.

(As expected of a child.) She starts by picking up the books one by one and setting I on the top of the drawer. "Well at least it gives me something to do."

That leads the events to the current period in time. She finished alphabetically organizing the books in his room and was making up his bed.

As she finished, Terrence eyes appeared visible. He exhaled heavily. "Looks like I the pathways were successfully constructed." He opened and closed his hands. "I feel stronger now that the energy is compressed and can course through the mana circuits fluently." Sending a new source of mana, he looked to the left. (Looks like my sensitivity to mana has risen as well)

"Greetings, Master Terrence." She bowed her head to the prince. "I am Silvia. I was given the role as your personal servant and bodyguard. I promise I will be of service."

Terrence looked to the left then the right and noticed his room was clean. He got up from his position and walked over to his desk. (Looks like dad sent a spy over. Well, it's not like I was planning on hiding anything in the first place.)

In a notebook that was on his desk, was a list of different herbs. Taking them out of the book. He folds the paper and hands it to Silvia. "From now on, you will be a busy woman. Here's a list of plants I require. It is necessary to grab the plant itself or it's seeds." He explained.

(Mad scientist baby.....great.)"Now its time for me to bathe."

"Sir Reginald has gone to retrieve a towel for you." She said to him.

"Then we will cross paths. Take out a comfortable outfit for me to sleep in then meet me in the bathing quarters." He walked of the room.

(Are they sure thats a 5 year old?) Silvia thought.